Therapeutic machine for stimulating blood circulation of the skin and immediately underlying tissue



March 9,- 1954 L. E. HOLLAN THERAPEUTIC MACHINE FOR STI D MULATING BLOOD CIRCULATIO OF THE SKIN AND IMMEDIATELY UNDERLYING TISSUE Filed May 4, 1953 INVENTOR. E Efl A 04/4? .5 flo/m/m L (55 46 BY Patented Mar. 9, 1954 2,671,443 THERAPEUTIC MACHINE FOR STIMULATING BLOOD CIRCULA TION OF THE SKIN AND IMMEDIATELY UNDERLYING TISSUE Louis E. Holland, Lee's summit, Mo. Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,788

7 Claims.

This invention relates to health equipment and more particularly to a mechanical body mas'sager. the primary object being to improve upon the invention of my co-pending application Serial No. 289,971, filed May 26, 1952, now Patent No. 2,657,685.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a massaging machine structurally formed for convenience in use in a large number of ways so that the user may effectively treat any part of his body and at the same time remain comfortable while the machine is in operation.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine such as forms the subject matter of my cc-pending application, but having certain advantages not therein contemplated such as the provision of flexible patters that may be easily and quickly removed as desired so that certain portions only of the body may be massaged, all within the choice of the user.

Other objects include the way in which a novel seat is attached to the frame of the machine for swinging movement to and from an operating position; the manner of detachably mounting the patters through use of snap fasteners; the way in which therapeutic lamps are adjustably mounted on the frame of the machine; and the Way in which the novel construction of the patting assembly cooperates with the therapeutic lamps in stimulating blood circulation of the skin and immediately underlying tissues.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a therapeutic machine for stimulating blood circulation of the skin and immediately underlying tissues, made pursuant to my present invention.

2 is a transverse, cross sectional View taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, cross sectional View through the patter assembly taken on line I"I--III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram showing electrical components of the machine; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a therapeutic machine showing a modified form of the invention.

A hollow housing Ii), provided with a forwardly extending platform l2, forms a support for the machine of the present invention and is provided with a top wall it upon which the user may stand if desired, to subject himself to the action of a patter assembly, broadly designated by the numeral l 6. The top wall M of the housing ill receives framework that consists of a U- shaped, preferably tubular member l8 and an l '-shaped member 20 joined to the bight of the member I8 as shown in Fig. 1.

The patter assembly I 6 includes a vertical shaft 22 mounted for rotation on its vertical axis within a bearing 24 at the point of joinder between members l8 and 20 and by a bearing (not shown) within the housing l0, it being noted that shaft 22 projects through the wall [4 of housing H]. The shaft 22 mounts a plurality of flexible patters 26, each of which includes an intermediate section 28 and a pair of diametrically opposed outer sections 30 and 32 extending radially outwardly from the intermediate section. It is noted that the patte'rs 26 are staggered along the length of the shaft 22 and when all of the ections 30 and 32 are in place the patters 26 extend throughout the length of the shaft 22.

The shaft 22 is provided with opposed slots 34 that receive the sections 28 of the patters 26. Each section 30 and 32 and the section 28, are provided with a transverse row of snap fasteners 36 for releasably holding the sections 36 and 32 mounted on the intermediate section 28. The fasteners 36 and normally inner ends of patters 25 prevent displacement of the respective section 28. i

A substantially reniform seat 38 and a similarly shaped shelf 40 connected thereto by a plurality of legs 42 are swingably mounted on one of the legs of the member 18 through the medium of a clamp A l on one end of the seat 38 and the shelf 40 respectively. This assembly is movable from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1 and by dotted lines in Fig. 2 to the operative position adjacent the assembly l6 as shown by full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. I

A number of heat lamps 46 such as infrared, are mounted on a support 48 that is in turn adjustably held in place on the member 20 through the medium of a screw clamp 50. As

best shown in Fig. 2. member 2D is provided with a longitudinal rib 2| secured to the normally rear side thereof and extending along its vertical length. Member '20 forms through support E8 and the opening in said support is complement'ary in transverse contour with member 20 and rib '2! to maintain support 43 in the operative position with lamps '46 directed toward the patting assembly l5.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing there is illustrated a reversible electric motor 52 that is energized for rotation in either direction through the medium of a switch 54 connected to an actuating handle 56 conveniently accessible to the user of the machine by being meun'ted on the wall M as shown in Fig. l. The lamps 46 are also coupled in the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing by a conventional plug 58. Switch 54 is preferably of the conventional three position, double pole type as shown in Fig. 4, the lamps 46 being coupled in the circuit in the manner illustrated to prevent energization thereof except when the motor 52 is receiving current to rotate the patter assembly I6, thereby avoiding scorchin of the patters 26 which would occur if the lamps 46 were energized with the patters 26 stationary. Separate switches 55 are provided for controlling the energization of the lamps 46.

As above indicated, the machine may be used either with the operator standing upon the wall I4 or upon the platform I2, sitting upon the seat 38 when it is swung to the position shown in full lines by Fig. 2 of the drawing, or seated in a chair or on a couch situated adjacent the machine. In any of such positions, the lamps 46 may be utilized by merely shifting the same vertically along the member 20, depending upon where the operator desires heat to be applied upon his body, and it is seen that the patter assembly I6 tends to interrupt the heat rays emanating from the lamps 46, preventing burns when the machine is used over long periods of time with the lamps 46 energized. The motor 52 may be energized for rotation in either direction simply by actuating the handle 56 either by the hand or the foot.

It is further to be appreciated that any number of the sections 30 or 32 may be removed as desired by the operator so that only portions of the body will be massaged as the patters 26 come into contact with the user.

The patters 26 are preferably made from rubber or other soft, flexible material so that the user will be gently but effectively patted in a manner similar to'patting by hand, all to the end that blood circulation of the skin will be stimulated, as will the tissues and muscles that directly underlie the skin. soreness and stiffness oftentimes associated with overexertion may be relieved in the muscles, the back, feet, shoulders or arms since the machine is universally adaptable for use in a number of positions which the user may desire to take.

The machine is completely portable and is, therefore, adapted for home use, for use in clubs, gymnasiums, exercise salons and the like. It is particularly easy to increase peripheral circulation at the forepart of the body simply by standing upon the wall I4 and holding on the member I8, or the entire dorsal area including the back, thighs and leg calves by standing upon the platform I2. It is even possible to use the seat 38 in the position shown in Fig. l of the drawing if desired, since the operator may easily and conveniently place his feet and legs within the path of travel of the lowermost patters 26; and it is to be stressed that by virtue of the use of the snap-fasteners 36, whenever the assembly I6 is placed in use, only those portions of the body requiring massaging need be subjected to the action of the patters 26.

The form of therapeutic equipment shown in Fig. 5 embodies the same principle as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, with respect to patters 2s and the method of securing the same in place upon a tubular section I00 which in turn is journaled for rotation in a head I02 and operatively joined to a flexible shaft I04 normally joined to a source of power such as an electric motor not here shown. The loom- I06 shields flexible shaft I04 and a grip or handle I08 is provided for the convenience of the operator. Patters I I0 and section I I2 are precisely the same as patters 26 and section 28 respectively illustrated in Fig. 3 and above defined with regard to the matter of inter-relation and securement.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a massaging machine, a vertically disposed, rotatably mounted shaft; a plurality of flexible patters secured to the shaft, each patter havin a pair of diametrically opposed sections extending radially outwardly from the shaft; and releasable means for each section respectively securing the same to the shaft.

2. In a massaging machine, a vertically disposed, rotatably mounted shaft; a plurality of flexible patters secured to the shaft, each patter having an intermediate section secured to the shaft, and a pair of diametrically opposed outer sections extending radially outwardly from the intermediate section; and releasable means for each outer section respectively securing the same to the intermediate section.

3. In a massaging machine, an upright frame; a vertically disposed, rotatably mounted shaft; a plurality of radial, flexible patters secured to the shaft; and a seat attached to the frame for swinging movement to and from a position adjacent the patters for supporting a user being subjected to the massaging action of the patters.

4. In a massaging machine, an upright frame; a vertically disposed, rotatably mounted shaft; a plurality of radial, flexible patters secured to the shaft; and a seat attached to the frame for swinging movement to and. from a position adjacent the patters for supporting a user being subjected to the massaging action of the patters, said seat having an arcuate innermost edge concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft when the seat is in said position.

5. In a massaging machine, an upright frame; a vertically disposed, rotatably mounted shaft; a plurality of radial, flexible patters secured to the shaft; a platform for supporting a user standing adjacent the patters and being subjected to the massaging action thereof; and a seat swingably secured to the frame, said seat being vertically reciprocable on the frame for positioning upon the platform to support a user sitting thereon adjacent the patters.

6. In a therapeutic apparatus, an upright frame; a heat lamp mounted on the frame; and rotatable means for intermittently intercepting heat rays emanating from the lamp, said means including a vertically disposed, rotatably mounted shaft, and a plurality of radial members carried by the shaft, said members being flexible for massaging a user while he subjects himself to said heat rays.

'7. In a therapeutic apparatus, an upright frame; a heat lamp mounted on the frame; and rotatable means for intermittently intercepting heat rays emanating from the lamp, said means including a vertically disposed, rotatably mounted shaft, and a plurality of radial members carried by the shaft, said members being flexible for massaging a user while he subjects himself to said heat rays, said members extending in a vertical series along the shaft, said lamp having means for holding the same in selected positions along the frame.

LOUIS E. HOLLAND.

No references cited. 

